Some significant news broke today on Twitter — according to EVO writer Chris Harris & Lexus Europe, Lexus driver Akira Iida posted a 7:14 lap time of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a LFA Nürburgring Edition — good enough for either the fourth or fifth all-time fastest lap on the famed German track in a production vehicle (the exact time has yet to be announced). Even more impressive, regardless of milliseconds, this is the fastest lap ever by a mainstream manufacturer.

More on this story as it develops, but in the meantime, here’s another video of Iida-san piloting the LFA around the Nürburgring with a passenger — NOTE: This is not the record setting lap:

Now just imagine shaving :22 off this lap — absolutely amazing achievement.

Update: Just received this comment by Maarten, who was attending the LFA driving event when this lap took place:

Mr. Iida- San has set this record on the full Nordschleife during a customer meeting with LF-A buyers held on wednesday 01.09. and thursday 02.09.2011.

The news was brought to Mr. Tanahashi – San ( chief engineer LF-A project ) during the wednesday evening diner and he was delighted but said they had to wait till the record time was approved officially.

The video with driver Iida-San is indeed part of the circuit as every LF-A customer was able to join one of the drivers for a quick lap on the track. Therefore it was during this time not possible to do a full lap as the cars had to go thru the pit. My best guess is that about 250 meters track was closed to organize this pit lane stop action.